New Council appointments for Australian National Maritime Museum

The Federal Government has appointed Dr Kevin Fewster AM and Dr Bülent (Hass) Dellal AO as members to the Council for the Australian National Maritime Museum for three-year terms.

The Australian National Maritime Museum, located in in Sydney’s Darling Harbour precinct, is dedicated to exploring Australia's maritime history through topics of migration, archaeology, ocean science, commerce, culture and lifestyle, and honours the stories of First Nations peoples' living cultural connection to ancestral waters.

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the appointees' industry knowledge would contribute greatly to the boards noting "Kevin has many years of experience working within cultural institutions as well as a deep passion for maritime history which will be a great asset to the council.

"Bülent is an accomplished academic who has a keen interest in exploring Australia's multicultural stories which is something our incredible cultural institutions do with pride."

Dr Kevin Fewster AM has held a number of senior maritime heritage sector positions since 1984, particularly in Australia and the United Kingdom. He was previously Director of the Royal Museums Greenwich (2007-2019), the Powerhouse Museum (2000-2007), Australian National Maritime Museum (1989-2000) and South Australian Maritime Museum (1984-1988). He is currently a Patron of the Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network and The Friends of Gallipoli Inc, and a Board member of The Mariners' Museum in Newport, Virginia. Dr Fewster was previously the President of the International Congress of Maritime Museums, the world peak body for maritime museums, as well as a former Chairman of the Council of Australasian Museum Directors. Dr Fewster was awarded a British CBE and was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to museum administration and the preservation of maritime history.

Dr Bülent (Hass) Dellal AO is Chair of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, and Adjunct Professor at Deakin University's Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation. Dr Dellal's other board memberships include: Chair of Alfred Deakin Institute of Citizenship and Globalisation's Advisory Board, Board of Directors of the Scanlon Foundation, Board of Directors of The Huddle, and Board of Directors of the Penington Institute. Dr Dellal has given decades of service to multicultural organisations, the arts and the community, promoting a multicultural Australia. In 2015, Dr Dellal was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the multicultural community He has extensive board and council experience, contributing 10 years of service on the Board of Directors of SBS Television and Radio. In 2024, Dr Dellal served as Panel Chair for the Commonwealth's Multicultural Framework Review.